Roosevelt Island has benefited during both rounds of participatory budgeting, and here’s a chance to make it three. If you have a good idea for quality of life improvements, get on board like PS/IS 217 and NYPL did.
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Here is Council Member Julie Menin’s Press Release:
Council Member Julie Menin is proud to announce an allocation of one million dollars to continue participatory budgeting for Council District 5 (Yorkville, Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill, Roosevelt Island, and Midtown East). Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. Since her time serving on the Board of Citizens Union, Council Member Julie Menin has championed the importance of civic participation in our budgeting process.
A total of one million dollars of the Council Member’s discretionary budget allocation can be used for physical infrastructure projects that benefit the public, cost at least $50,000, and have a lifespan of at least 5 years. For example, projects such as local improvements to schools, parks, libraries, housing, and other public spaces can be funded.
Area residents are invited to share project ideas that could be implemented within her Council District by visiting this website and sharing proposals by Friday, November 10, 2023.
Ideas are then submitted to the respective City agency for evaluation and cost and Council Member Menin’s Office works with community partners to formulate a ballot for voting. Ballots will be distributed throughout the East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island as well as through an online portal for voting which will occur April 6th to April 14th, 2024.
Lance A. Polivy, Vice President for Legal Affairs
I do not usually write ahead of the week’s rhythm. Fridays suit an old woman. They allow time for tea, rereading, and the small mercy of correcting one’s own excessive cleverness. But this cannot wait for Friday.
